President Halonen in St Petersburg

President Tarja Halonen and Prime Minister Anneli Jäätteenmäki attended the 300th Anniversary celebrations of St Petersburg on 30 and 31 May 2003. St. Petersburg hosted also the EU-Russia Summit at the same time. The Heads of State or Government of the present and future EU Member States had been invited to the Summit hosted by the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin.

President Halonen and Dr. Pentti Arajärvi in St. Petersburg. Photo: Lehtikuva.

The 300th Anniversary celebrations started on Friday, 30 May when the guests visited St. Isaac's Cathedral and attended a concert at the Marinski Theatre. In the evening, President Putin and Mrs Ludmila Putin hosted a jubilee dinner.

On Saturday, 31 May, the EU-Russia Summit was followed by the inauguration of a new Congress Palace and the Heads of State or Government present there visited also an exhibition on Peter the Great at the Hermitage.

Dr. Pentti Arajärvi and Mr. Jorma Melleri attended the ceremonies.